Luggage contents containment apparatus.

ABSTRACT

The present invention pertains to the safe containment of the contents inside luggage. The invention is manufactured from a material that when inflated with air forms a pliable bladder. The finished invention is place inside of luggage. The invention is inflated filling any voids within the luggage holding the contents in place as the luggage is transport around the world.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When traveling with luggage a lot of the time the luggage compartment is not entirely full, leaving a lot of empty space inside. As the baggage is tossed around, loaded on and off planes, onto conveyors the baggage can flip over, allowing the items within the luggage to move all around. When the luggage is stood upright all the contents will fall towards the bottom. So what was once nicely packed cloth and articles, is now a jumbo mess. Present day luggage manufactures have attempted to solve this problem by providing straps or additional compartment within the luggage. The straps only contain large rigid items, clothe, shoes, cosmetic bags are rarely held in place with straps. The additional compartments within the luggage are small or typically on the sides providing limited storage space. The present inventions solves the problem where by the apparatus is located inside the baggage compartment, as the apparatus is blown up if fills the space within the baggage holding the contents firmly in place as the luggage is transported.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:

Features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying exemplary embodiment's shown in the drawings, which are briefly described below.

FIG. 1. An open top, front and right side perspective view of luggage with the invention.

FIG. 2. A closed top, front and right side view of luggage with a pump exposed.

FIG. 3. A top, front and right side perspective view of the apparatus showing multiply filling valves.

FIG. 4. An open top, front and right side view of luggage with the invention in the bottom compartment.

FIG. 5. An open top, front and right side view of luggage, showing how the apparatus could be attached to the top of the luggage lid.

FIG. 6. A closed top, front and right side view of luggage with the pump hidden.

FIG. 7. A side view of one type of pump.

DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not restrictive of the invention.

It should be noted that the term “exemplary” as used herein to describe various embodiment's is intended to indicate that such embodiment's are possible examples, representations, and/or illustrations of possible embodiment's (and such term is not intended to connote that such embodiment's are necessarily extraordinary or superlative examples).

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,” “above,” “below,” etc.) are merely used to describe the orientation of various elements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation of various elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiment's, and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

The present invention relates to the construction and use of a luggage contents containment apparatus, referring to FIG. 3, shown according to an exemplary embodiment. The invention is constructed from an expanded material such as, but not limited to, silicone, latex, natural rubber to form a inflatable bladder 10, the size, the seams 22 and shape will vary depending on the style, shape and size of the luggage the invention will be used within. As shown in FIG. 3, the invention according to an exemplary embodiment could be a rectangular prism having sides that expand to fill the void within a typical rectangular luggage FIG. 2, 1. The invention being expandable, allows the consumer the ability to fill the empty space inside of the luggage to the desired firmness depending on the contents within the luggage to hold them in position. As the invention inflates it also expands the top, sides and bottom of the luggage to maintain its shape and to protect the contents of the luggage from getting squashed.

The invention has at least one fill valve 12, but may have additional fill valves to allow the consumer additional locations to access, inflate or deflate the invention.

The present invention can easily be designed and constructed so that it can be incorporated into luggage FIG. 1, at the time of manufacturing the luggage. Ideally it would be permanently located in the top lid 5 of the luggage, but could easily be located on any side or the bottom 4. The air fill valve 12, ideally would be located so that it protrudes through the top of the baggage FIG. 5, via a hole 19, giving easy access to fill the embodiment once the lid is closed. If an optional pump 3, is to be used FIG. 6., it could be concealed within a pocket 6, located in the top 5, or on any side or the bottom of luggage and connected to the invention via a hose 9.

The traveler would pack their luggage neatly, close the lid, access the pump in the outside pocket, inflate the invention, thus filling the void within the luggage, securing the travelers articles such as pants 7, balls 27 and shirts 25 within the luggage for the duration of the trip, while maintaining the shape of the luggage. Once the traveler is at the destination, they may access the pump and set it to deflate the invention, open the luggage to access the contents just as neat as they pack it.

In one aspect, the preferred form, the invention would be designed and manufactured into the luggage such that is its permanently attached to the top lid of the luggage. The shape is specifically design for the width, height and length of the luggage compartment such that when he lid is closed and the invention filled it would fully inflate and fill the compartment any items within the compartment are compressed remaining in place. FIG. 2.. The invention maybe sewn into the luggage, or it could be attached using a hook 24 and loop fastener 23, snaps or buttons, this could allow it to be removed for cleaning etc. It could also be hidden within a liner inside the luggage

In other embodiment's, the invention could be designed into the bottom of luggage, such that after the lid is closed, the invention is inflated, filling the void from the bottom up. Or in another embodiment, the invention could be designed into one or more sides of the luggage, if needed multiply inventions could be used to contain the contents from all sides as needed.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the invention would be used with previously purchased luggage FIG. 4, not containing the invention. The consumer could purchase the invention and place it within the luggage compartment, inflated the invention, close the lid, while not as ideal as the integrated version of the invention, it would still provide the needed benefit to the user.

Filling the invention can be accomplished by numerous exemplary embodiment's, one such embodiment is the use of a DC battery 14 powered pump FIG. 7, where the traveler would access the pump, they could attach the hose 9 to the nozzle 19 of the pump. Turn on the pump via the on/off switch 2, which causes power to excite the motor 15 which rotates, spinning a turbine 16 expelling air out the nozzle. Another option is for the pump to be permanently attached to the hose. Instead of a DC motor, a AC powered pump could be used, a hand pump, a hair dryer or by mouth, similar to inflating a floating pool toy. While the design of a pump is not part of the invention, some method of inflation of the invention from empty to one hundred percent is required to fill the void within the luggage. A pump 3 could be neatly stored in a pocket 6, the pocket could be a zippered pocket on the outside of the luggage, the user would access the pump, engage the pump to inflate the invention.

While it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. It is important to note that the luggage secure apparatus as shown in the various exemplary embodiment's are illustrative only. Although only a limited number of embodiment's have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in dimensions, sizes, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, types of mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter described herein. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiment's. Other substitutions, modifications, changes and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions and arrangement of the various exemplary embodiment's without departing from the scope of the present invention. 

1) A pliable, inflatable apparatus placed inside luggage to secure the contents expandable from zero to one hundred percent. 2) Luggage constructed to include the apparatus while being manufacture. 3) A pliable, inflatable apparatus placed inside luggage to maintain the shape of the luggage. 4) An apparatus according to claims 1, 2 and 3, formed from an expandable material. 5) An apparatus according to claims 1, 2 and 3, having at least one valve that can be used to inflate the apparatus. 6) An apparatus according to claims 1, 2 and 3, having a manual or electric pump that can be used to inflate the apparatus. 7) Luggage according to claim 2, having the pump located within a compartment. 8) An apparatus according to claims 5, having multiply fill valves of the same style or different styles. 